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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: rash · deal · stand · wax · calf · lie · nail · mug

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. mug — a cup
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. rash — a series
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. stand — to bear
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. lie — to recline
  16. deal — to handle
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. wax — to grow
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. mug — a face
  24. mug — to rob

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com